Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-13

spiritual life is diminished by the oppos-
ing influences of the world. Christians
are living on part grace and do not know
how dead they are. Uncle Billy Allen
when conducting revival meetings in time
of drought was earnestly requested to
pray for rain. He consented, but looked
around little for himself and added to
the desired prayer the statement. But
o Lord thou knowest this land needs top
dressing" SO the churches need top
dressing. A man remarked to me this
afternoon that he was in better business
than going to church. That was played
out long ago Now IL all the churches
were where they ought to be we would
not hear such statements.
Tuesday evening DIR. Pentecost gave
talk on coming to hear the truth rather
than the speaker And then gave grand
statement of truth, superbly illustrated
from the words of the 27th psalm 1.-The
Lord is My Light and My salvation"
Christ comes to give us light. God is
spirit, but who can tell what spirit is,
we believe a great many things which we
do not understand, like the existence of
God and other spiritual beings. Some ID
years ago when in Europe | received Il
cablegram announcing the death of my
mother. | hurried home rs fast as could
and we took our mother from the vault in
Greenwood and buried her. But is that
true ? We did not bury our mother, but
| have no conception of my mother
apart from her body, So God made him
self known by embodying himself Jesus
said he that hath seen me hath seen the
Father. He forgave sins, which only God
could do.
In chapel in Rome there is beautiful
frescoe on a lofty ceiling. 1t was SO diff
cult to see it that with the consent of the
Pope mirror was put underneath with "A
railing around it so that visitors may look
down into that and see the beautiful lines
and colors SO God has put himself down
in Jesus Christ where all may Sc him.
He never turned any away. The poor wo-
man by the well left her water pot and went
away with whole well of water. And to
NlcUdemuS the ruler of the Jews the same
condition was made. Except We be born
again We cannot see the Kingdom of God.
lie chlded Philip because he did not I'M
stand His divine nature after being with
Him so long. | am thankful that do not
have to pierce the sky to find God.
Again Christ tells us where we
came and whittier we are going 1t
seems incredible thata ny should be SO
sunken in sin that they never ask the
question, "Who am ?" "Where am |
going ?" How sad to think of the condi-
ton of men who see nothing beyond the
near horizon of death which may come to
them at any time! Some think they know
whence they are. The beginning is a tad
pole and the end is an intidel. With some
every man is for himself and the devil Is
for us all.
But the Bible tells us that we were made
in Gods image. We have that image
restored in Christ and are to glorify Him
forever. The test of our worship is a
growing likeness to Christ. And we know
that when He shall appear we shall be
like Him. Christians look beyond death
and the grave. Had it not been for Jesus
Christ l might have been in a drunkard's
grave. | was not common druukard,
but champagne in the parlor is as bad as
in some underground den. And the devil
does not care how his victims come to
him, whether by a highway or a byway.
Thirdly. Christ tells us how we may get
rid of our sins.
The man who cannot pay his debts can
not wipe out the old account simply by
paying for what he gets in the future.
And man cannot free himself from the
guilt OF sin simply by reformation. Christ
Is our sin bearer and all may avail may
themselves of the atonement.
THE AFTER MEETING.
DR.. Pentecost gave in his CATER meet
ing'' a helpful talk on "How to become
Christian ~ The remarks were based
upon the 10th chapter of Romans and set
forth the duty of confessing and believing
Christ as there set forth. He said 25 years
ago in little Baptist church in Kentucky
| responded to this appeal.
Several responded to the invitation to
accept Christ as their Saviour. The meet
ing was pervaded by deep interest which
is increasing from meeting to meeting.
THIRD DAY.
Wednesday afternoon DR.. Pentecost
continued his talk upon the 23d Psalm
beginning with the words, YEA, though
| walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, l will fear no evil" The preach
er said, sit would be great help to peo-
pie if they could be relieved of the fear
of death.
There are many speculative questions
which can not be settled A mother who
had lost little girl two years of age
came to me with the question, "When |
90 10 heaven will my little girl still be a
child or Will she be grown up ?" told
her could not help her on that question
but it would be all right and satisfactory
to her.
There is nothing sentimental about
death, we can not properly call it an angel.
| Death is an enemy.
The historical, basis for this statement
of the psalmist is found in the fact that
David was passing through dark valley
haunted by robbers when fleeing from
Absalom. When passing through deep
gorge in the Alps the mountains We're so
high and steep on either side that the sun
We could see the sun shining on the dis
tant peaks but were ourselves in the
gloom of the mountains shadow. So we
are to be in the shadow of death. We
can delay by any means the hand of
death. But Christ has tasted death for
every man and relieved us of its terror.
The mother was trying TO induce her sick
little hoy to take dose of bad tasting
medicine, but he sturdily refused with
the remark, 1T is nasty" With moth,
er's instinct she raised the spoon to her
lips and took half of the dose. 1t was a
revelation TO the child. And with fright
ened countenance he took the remainder
of the dose. So Christ helps us by this
infinite sympathy and love. Many fear
that they will not bear up in the hour of
death. But Christ will give us dying
grace when we need it. We need not be
afraid of the terror of death Most OF
our troubles are of yesterday and to-mor-
row. But if we would only bear to-day's
burden we would find it comparatively
light. A lady in an inquiry room in Lon
don SAID to Mr.. Moody, 81 should like to
be a Christian but am afraid l can not
| hnl mi no plA int h.